The Rangers optioned Rocker to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
Rocker made his final start of the season Thursday against Oakland, so the Rangers will send him and Jack Leiter back out to the minors in order to bring in additional bullpen depth in the form of Marc Church and Daniel Robert. Rocker will finish the 2024 campaign with a 3.86 ERA and 1.54 WHIP alongside a 14:6 K:BB through 11.2 innings after making the first three starts of his MLB career in September.
Rocker (0-2) took the loss Thursday against the Athletics, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks across 4.2 innings. He struck out two.
Rocker pitched into the fifth inning for the first time in three starts this season but was attributed his second straight loss. Encouragingly, the rookie didn't walk a batter Thursday after walking six in his first two outings (seven innings). At 24 years old, Rocker is one of baseball's best pitching prospects. He allowed three runs across 29.2 combined innings at Double-A and Triple-A.
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Control issues in second start
Rotowire
Rocker (0-1) took the loss Thursday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks across three innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out five.
Rocker's second start was a bit rockier than his first, needing 71 pitches to complete three frames. In addition to the four walks, he also allowed a baserunner by way of a hit-by-pitch. Despite the control trouble, his one earned run allowed was scored without allowing a hit and the second run allowed came off of a throwing error. The highly touted rookie has allowed one earned run in each of his first two outings spanning seven innings and is set to make one more start to close out the season, coming in a road matchup against either the Athletics or the Angels.
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Expected to get start next week
Rotowire
Rocker is expected to make another start for the Rangers during the final week of the season, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Rocker will make his second major-league start Thursday versus the Blue Jays after he struck out seven and allowed one run over four innings in his major-league debut last week against the Mariners. The Rangers are currently working with a six-man rotation and could expand to seven if they choose to give Jack Leiter another start. There's also Rocker's workload to consider in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. However, it sounds like Thursday's outing versus Seattle will not be his final one of the season. Rocker will face either the Athletics or the Angels on the road next week.
Rocker is scheduled to make his next start Thursday against the Blue Jays in Arlington.
Rocker was called up from Triple-A Round Rock last week and ended up taking the rotation spot of fellow rookie and former Vanderbilt teammate Jack Leiter, who was moved to the bullpen. After submitting stellar numbers in the minors upon completing his recovery from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, Rocker continued to shine in his MLB debut this past Thursday, striking out seven and inducing 17 swinging strikes while allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks over four innings. Rocker was lifted after 74 pitches, and though the Rangers will likely be conservative with his workload over what projects to be two more starts this season, he should be a strong source of strikeouts down the stretch.
